JUNE 12-18, 2026 • Vol. 61 Issue 5 • FREE
IN THIS ISSUE
Don’t Let Misinformation Undermine Proven Crime-Fighting Tools PAGE 4
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Bold Flavors, Fresh Vision Chef Donnie Wicker (above), owner of Trend Urban Cafe, brings a unique blend of cultural cuisine and healthy eating to Stone Mountain, Georgia, creating a community hub with his innovative take on fast-casual dining. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
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In the Black
Chef Wic Elevates Healthy Dining in Stone Mountain
Chef Donnie Wicker’s (above) love for cooking began in his childhood kitchen. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
By LAURA NWOGU
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hef Donnie Wicker, known as Chef Wic, fondly remembers the first time he fell in love with the art of cooking. Like many others, it began in his childhood kitchen, where he watched his grandfather whip up dish after dish in his North Carolina home. That awe of witnessing simple things like grease turn into a rich gravy sparked his interest and a desire to craft his own culinary journey.
Wicker now owns Trend Urban Cafe in Stone Mountain, Georgia, a fast-casual restaurant focused on clean eating, community, and cultural blending. He’s also the owner of Guac Taco Studio and SmashD Burgers, two concepts that sit alongside the Trend Urban brand. It’s an achievement 30 years in the making, a product of working his way up in the hustle and bustle of fine dining establishments and earning the title of restaurateur while in North Carolina. When he moved to DeKalb
Trend Urban Cafe offers a blend of Southern classics, international cuisine, and vegan eats. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
County, he noticed the food scene, compared to Atlanta, was lacking. Just down the street, the area is popular with restaurant chains and fast-food spots, but Wicker knew he wanted to bring something different to the community. “I thought the community would enjoy different concepts,” Wicker said. “The area didn’t have anything to correlate to eating healthier, so I put my own twist on fine dining and casual dining elements into fast casual, where we’re making things fresh and committed to providing a healthier choice around this area.” Since 2019, Trend Urban Cafe has become a staple neighborhood spot where locals enjoy dishes that play on Southern classics, international cuisine, and vegan eats while pushing health consciousness. From southern catfish protein bowls and jerk salmon quesadillas to towering fried chicken sandwiches, and from cauliflower nuggets to soul chicken tacos with bourbon collards and creamy hot sauce, Wicker makes sure each dish is cooked as cleanly as possible and free of additives, while still boasting a creative flair. “We take a lot of cultural foods, whether it’s Indian, Asian, Jamaican, and we bring them into one,” Wicker said. “Food is one of those
“The area didn’t have anything to correlate to eating healthier, so I put my own twist of fine dining and casual dining elements into fast casual, where we’re making things fresh and committed to providing a healthier choice around this area.” - Chef Donnie Wicker. Photo by Tabius McCoy/ The Atlanta Voice
things that never gets dull, and has so many elements to it, especially as a chef.” With an open kitchen concept, it’s easy to spot Wicker moving through the kitchen as he helps his team prep orders. A sign that says ‘Watch me work’ sits above him as he plates a portobello patty melt. Plants that Wick tends surround the patio, and a TV encourages local businesses to display their advertisements. In the dining area, guests mingle and eat in seating designed to increase socialization. Above them, on the
ceiling, the words ‘embrace culture’ are written. “It’s humbling, and I’m just glad that I can be here and be an asset to the community, because that was the main focus… The community has received us well, and we certainly appreciate it by doing different things for them. We’re invested wholly. At the end of the day, we’re not just a restaurant, we’re an asset to the community. “I’m grateful that I have a gift, and I just try to use it to better my community.”
theatlantavoice.com • JUNE 12-18, 2026 • Page 3
Metro
Family, community members gather to honor the life of Margaret Swan By LAURA NWOGU
I
t was a gloomy Sunday evening, but the rainy weather didn’t stop the community from gathering to honor the life of Margaret Swan, a 66-year-old woman who was stabbed up to 20 times on a MARTA train near the Oakland City station on May 30. A smiling portrait of Swan was displayed under a canopy of candles, white roses and fruit just feet away from the station where she was murdered. Swan’s daughters Shanae and Tiara Sams stood under a white tent as they listened to local organizers with Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) condemn what officials called an “unprovoked act of senseless violence.” Police arrested the suspect, 25-year-old John Elijah Matthews, just minutes after the stabbing was reported. “I don’t know if this was his plan, but he created his own art on my mother’s body — 18 to 20 stab wounds. He stood by my mother, slashed her throat. She got up, he threw her on the ground,” Tiara Sams said as she held her daughter and Swan’s granddaughter in her arms. “I feel like I’m more angry than grieving because he’s still alive. He’s still here.” The candlelight vigil opened with libations and a rendition of the spiritual and civil rights anthem “Oh, Freedom.” As the rain trickled down umbrellas, Mshairi Siyanda, a lead organizer for M4BL, poured water into a potted plant while giving thanks for Swan’s life and the community for showing up. “When I heard about it, I couldn’t sleep. The next day I woke up, and I told my coworker I wanted to organize a vigil. As soon as I said it to her, she said, ‘Let’s do it,’’ and we immediately started making phone calls; that was this past Tuesday, and here we are today,” Siyanda told The Atlanta Voice. Siyanda shared that she got in contact with Swan’s daughter Shanae Sams, and they talked and cried on the phone together for 30 minutes. “I let her know how hurt I was, how hurt so many other people were, and it was beautiful talking to
Swan’s daughters Shanae and Tiara Sams stood under a white tent as they listened to local organizers with Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) condemn what officials called an “unprovoked act of senseless violence.” Photo by Miles Pierre/The Atlanta Voice intern
her. And I’m so grateful that she is here today.” The candlelight vigil was also a moment for the community to honor the lives of other victims of tragic violence in Atlanta. The atmosphere was filled with sadness and melancholy but also anger. Many of the speakers expressed disappointment that those who were on the train with Swan didn’t step in to help while she was being attacked. “It’s our responsibility to be each other’s business, to be each other’s magnitude, to be each other’s harvest and bond. That is a quote by Gwendolyn Brooks. It’s not up to the police. Whether or not the police are present, we should still be responsible to each other. No matter who we are, our daughters should feel safe, our mothers should feel safe, our aunties should feel safe,” Siyanda said. “I’ve been afraid to walk on the BeltLine. I was never afraid to walk in my own community, and it’s not up to me to carry mace, to carry knives, to keep my head on a swivel. It’s up to everybody else to transform and heal.” Swan’s death follows a recent string of random violence in the city, especially against women. In May, two other women were randomly stabbed: one while eating at a First Watch in Decatur and another while on the BeltLine. The BeltLine victim, 23-year-old Alyssa Paige, was killed. A suspect accused of carrying out a targeted shooting at the Midtown MARTA train on
June 5 was arrested on Sunday. These incidents have raised questions and concerns about public safety days before the FIFA World Cup begins and the city is flooded with people and teams from around the world. “I want the city to be responsible for its citizens and not be so engulfed in capitalism. These issues stem from a larger issue — from mental health, from poverty, from capitalism. Things are hard in the city for a lot of people, and folks are
A candlelight vigil was held to honor the life of Margaret Swan, (above) a 66-year-old woman who was stabbed to death on a MARTA train, and to condemn the senseless act of violence and to call for greater public safety in the city. Photo by Miles Pierre/The Atlanta Voice intern
desperate. I don’t want the World Cup to be like the Olympics, where we push things aside and clean up our living room while we shove things in the closet,” Siyanda said.
“Folks are hurting. There’s no excuse to cause harm, but I want the city to be proactive and not reactive in how we treat its citizens, poor, rich, and in between.”
The vigil, organized by Movement for Black Lives, highlighted concerns about public safety amid recent violent incidents in the city. Photo by Miles Pierre/The Atlanta Voice intern
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Voices
Don’t Let Misinformation Undermine Proven Crime-Fighting Tools By CHIEF JOHN DIXON (Ret.), Past President, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
FOUNDER/EDITOR Ed Clayton Immortalis Memoria
PUBLISHER/EDITOR
A
fter decades of working in law enforcement and a lifetime of community engagement and empowerment, I’ve seen firsthand what works to keep our communities safe and secure. A key aspect to building a community safety plan that works is making sure our officers have the tools necessary to respond when the call comes. As technology continues to develop at a rapid rate, criminal behavior becomes more advanced and more complicated – it is critical our officers are equipped with tools that can combat this crime. License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology is one of these tools. It has a proven track record in real-time identification, which helps our officers solve crimes faster and protect our communities more effectively. The real-time alerts from LPR cameras allow us access to critical,
FOUNDED May 11, 1966
J. Lowell Ware
Immortalis Memoria The Atlanta Voice honors the life of J. Lowell Ware. ––– PUBLISHER Janis Ware PRESIDENT/ GENERAL MANAGER James A. Washington 2018-2024 COO Richard Dunn rdunn@theatlantavoice.com Chief John Dixon (Ret.) Past President National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
time-sensitive data, helping to recover stolen vehicles within hours, track suspects fleeing violent crimes, and generate leads on human trafficking and kidnapping cases far faster than what is achievable with only manpower. The success isn’t theoretical; it’s
As technology continues to develop at a rapid rate, criminal behavior becomes more advanced and more complicated – it is critical our officers are equipped with tools that can combat this crime. License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology is one of these tools. It has a proven track record in real-time identification, which helps our officers solve crimes faster and protect our communities more effectively. iStock.com/ martin_33
been proven in more than 5,000 communities nationwide. Despite these key points, misinformation around privacy concerns
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and officer misuse continue to undermine the very tools we need to combat crime. These concerns, while important, have been discouraging to see. Modern criminals don’t operate in neat boxes. Their actions span throughout multiple jurisdictions and are constantly evolving, making it harder for traditional policing methods to keep up. Choosing to reject a proven tool like LPR cameras threatens our ability to respond quickly and means accepting that some crimes will go unsolved. While there are legitimate conversations to be had about privacy and accountability when using this tool, these concerns should not be used as a reason to abandon the tool altogether. The answer is not to eliminate the technology, but to ensure it is implemented responsibly with clear safeguards, local oversight, and adequate transparency. Too much of the debate on this topic is driven by hypothetical fears rather than the real-world implications. While we continue to argue about what could happen, our officers are out responding to what is actually happening on the streets. The responsibility for public safety is not theoretical; it’s our sworn responsibility. Our community deserves to have every tool available to keep them safe.
DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST Jazmine Brazier jbrazier@theatlantavoice.com EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO PUBLISHER Chia Suggs csuggs@theatlantavoice.com EDITOR IN CHIEF Donnell Suggs editor@theatlantavoice.com GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTERS Laura Nwogu lnwogu@theatlantavoice.com Noah Washington nwashington@theatlantavoice.com BUSINESS REPORTER Tabius H. McCoy tmccoy@theatlantavoice.com EDITOR AT LARGE Stan Washington swashington@theatlantavoice.com –––
ADVERTISING, SALES & CIRCULATION ADVERTISING ADMINISTRATOR Chia Suggs advertising@theatlantavoice.com SALES RDW Jackson rdwadman@gmail.com SUBMISSIONS editor@theatlantavoice.com DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS Martel Sharpe msharpe@theatlantavoice.com ––– CONTACT INFORMATION 633 Pryor Street, S.W. Atlanta, GA 30312 Office: 404-524-6426 info@theatlantavoice.com
theatlantavoice.com • JUNE 12-18, 2026 • Page 5
Sponsored Content
Your home is an investment— How to create generational wealth A Q&A with local Community Lending Manager Marsha Johnson SPONSORED BY JPMORGANCHASE
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or most Americans, owning a home has long been considered a cornerstone to building and preserving generational wealth. A home purchase often symbolizes more than just securing a place to live – homeownership can help anchor families, support long-term financial stability and fuel local economic growth. If you currently own a home or if homeownership is one of your financial goals, it’s important to understand how your home can be a foundational pillar in helping you build and maintain generational wealth. A home can be an asset that appreciates over time as you build equity which can serve as a financial resource for you and your family for decades to come. Marsha Johnson, who leads a team of Chase Community Home Lending Advisors in Georgia, shares more about the connection between homeownership and building generational wealth, and how you can make sure your home becomes, or remains, your most important financial asset. Q: How does a home create generational wealth? A: There are several perks to homeownership, many of which contribute to building wealth. Owning your home may be cheaper than renting in the long term if you have a mortgage with competitive rates; however, it’s important to keep in mind other home expenses, like insurance and taxes, when considering costs. Plus, since you own the home, that means you can build and tap into your equity for future expenses or profit when your home is sold. Another way to think of homeownership as it relates to your financial picture is that it can influence your overall net worth. When you make monthly payments, you’re slowly owning more of your home and it can become an asset. On the
Marsha Johnson, Community Home Lending Manager at JPMorgan Chase & Co. NMLS ID 2114112
other hand, if you rent, your monthly housing costs are just an expense for a place to live and you don’t own any of it when you leave. Put simply, owning a home may help you grow your money over time. Q: Explain home equity and how building equity works. A: The technical definition of home equity is the difference between the fair market value of your home and how much you still owe on your mortgage. Essentially, think of it as the part of your home’s value that you truly own. It’s made up of the amount you’ve already paid off, plus any increase in your home’s value. So, if you’re home’s value goes up, so does your equity and vice versa. Equity grows as you pay down your mortgage and, as I mentioned earlier, the market value of your home increases. Q: How can this be beneficial financially? A: There are a few ways. You can borrow against your home equity by taking out a loan, using your property as collateral to secure the loan. There are a variety of ways you can do this such as through a home equity loan, home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a cashout refinance. You may use these funds to cover other expenses, like high-interest credit card debt, make home improvements, invest in another home or in an emergency. Home equity loans also tend to have more favorable terms than credit cards or other personal loans, potentially saving you
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money in the long run. Q: What if you sell your home? A: The more equity you have, the more you can profit from selling your home if you do so in the future. For example, if you’ve paid off your entire mortgage before you sell, you may get to keep all potential profits. If you haven’t paid off your mortgage, any profits will pay off what you owe and you’ll keep the remaining funds-- the more home equity you have, the greater your profit could be. Q: What other benefits come from owning your home? A. Homeownership offers the potential opportunity for tax deductions. The interest you pay on your mortgage, insurance premiums, property taxes and even
improvements to your energy efficiency may provide an opportunity for tax deductions. You can consult with your tax advisor if you’re looking to understand how buying a home may impact your taxes. There’s no place like home Homeownership has long been a powerful tool for building generational wealth in communities across the U.S. and can help you secure a solid financial future for yourself and your family. Your home is more than just the place where you rest your head—it can be your greatest financial asset. For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information
has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/ or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content. Deposit products provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender. © 2026 JPMorgan Chase & Co.
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Business
47th Atlanta Business League’s CEO Awards honors city leaders By TABIUS MCCOY Report for America Corp
O
n Tuesday, June 2, business executives of major Fortune 500 companies and some of the city’s most well-known entrepreneurs in a multitude of sectors, from real estate and social organizations to sports, came together during the lunch hour at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis for the Atlanta Business League’s annual 47th CEO Awards luncheon. The annual luncheon was an opportunity to highlight and recognize some of Atlanta’s most influential business leaders. This year’s ceremony honored the faces driving Atlanta’s current business landscape. TK Petersen and Ryan Wilson, co-founders of The Gathering Spot, received the Visions of
Excellence Award, while former WNBA and City Council President Lisa Borders took home the Distinguished Service Award. Eddy Benoit, CEO of The Benoit Group, was named Entrepreneur of the Year. The prestigious Herman J. Russell CEO of the Year Award went to Brian McGowan, president of Centennial Yards, the massive development currently transforming downtown Atlanta. The program began with last year’s award recipient, Mayor Andre Dickens. “Atlanta works best when it works for all of us,” said Dickens. “To this year’s honorees, we thank you for creating a space where leadership is uplifted.” For over 9 decades, the Atlanta Business League has been a safe space for advocacy, providing resources for minority entrepreneurs and businesses.
The Atlanta Business League hosted its 47th annual CEO Awards luncheon on June 2, celebrating Atlanta’s most influential business leaders. The event highlighted key figures shaping the city’s current business scene. Pictured (l-r) are Ryan Wlson, Eddy Benoit, Lisa Borders, Leona Barr-Davenport, Mayor Andre Dickens, Brian McGowan, and TK Petersen. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice.
Business
Four new business open inside the Atlanta Municipal Market By DONNELL SUGGS
Latasha Smith (right) and her daughter Jordan Smith at Dolce Tropical inside the Atlanta Municipal Market on Friday, June 5, 2026. Photo by Donnell Suggs/the Atlanta Voice
The lights were low, and the energy was high inside the Atlanta Municipal Market, a historic flea market on Edgewood Avenue in the heart of the Sweet Auburn District. Four new businesses have opened in the market, and many are owned by Black women. A ribbon-cutting ceremony, food-tasting, and mini-tour took place on the morning of Friday, June 5. Even though the market has been in operation for decades, this new look at businesses entering the field felt like a new beginning of sorts. “God is right on time,” said Mychel Rodriguez, the mother of one half of the ownership duo behind A Taste of Secrets (A.T.O.S.), a Jamaican-Puerto Rican fusion restaurant now open in the market. “This is a gift HE has given her.” Chefs Niddy Rodriguez and Miish Hudson are the team behind A.T.O.S., which is scheduled to open on Saturday, June 13. Both have experience as executive chefs, so when they decided to find a space for their business, the opportunity to open in a historic, busy market was a no-brainer. “There were so many reasons,” Rodriguez said of opening in the market.”This Atlanta Municipal Market is a hub for Atlantans.” “This is a historical building,” said Hudson. A.T.O.S. will offer a combination of foods
Four new businesses are now open inside the Atlanta Municipal Market, including some owned by women of color, like A.T.O.S. (above). Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
from both islands, including traditional dishes and empanadas filled with seafood, oxtail, curry chicken, or beef. A few feet away from A.T.O.S. is Dolce Tropical, a juice-and-shake bar also owned by a Black woman. Following a soft opening on Wednesday, June 3, the business is now open and ready for customers. Owner Latasha Smith and her daughter Jordan Smith were working behind the counter as the festivities took place. For the elder Smith, the idea for the business came from a combination of Jordan and similar drink options available on the world-famous Santa Monica Pier.
“This is an awesome opportunity for us,” said Latasha. “I wanted to bring these flavors to Atlanta.” Dolce Tropical offers fruitnadas, milkshakes, ice cream sundaes, and tropical lemonade. Prior to opening their first location, Latasha and Jordan told The Atlanta Voice they would set up shop outside fairs and near busy areas. Having a location in the market is a bonus,” Latasha says. “This is a culturally diverse and inclusive place. I checked it out, and I’m glad I did,” Latasha said. “They made us feel so welcome, so I couldn’t say no.” Along with A.T.O.S. and Dolce Tropical, The Retro Grill and Edgewood Pizza are set to open soon. The Retro Grill is owned and operated by Kheli Archer, a Black woman. City officials, business leaders, and Atlanta residents gathered to celebrate the new additions to the market. “This is a very special day in Atlanta. The Municipal Market is an institution,” said Greg Clay, Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “I think this is great,” said Miss D, the owner of Miss D’s Gourmet Candy, which is also located in the market and is Black woman-owned. “It’s great for the community and for the entrepreneurs who are getting their start.”
theatlantavoice.com • JUNE 12-18, 2026 • Page 7
Politics
Helen Z. Willis wants to be Fulton County District 5’s Next Commissioner By DONNELL SUGGS The Georgia primary election is done, and the runoffs are set. Early voting has begun and for the race for Fulton County’s next District 5 commissioner, every vote will count. Helen Z. Willis, formerly a member of South Fulton’s City Council, wants to be the next District 5 commissioner. Willis, who is currently in a runoff with Sojourner Marable Grimmett, believes she is the right woman for the job. “I’ve already been doing the work and addressing many of the issues that have plagued the South Fulton region, like affordable housing, criminal justice reform, and the lack of senior services,” said Willis. Last week, she visited The Atlanta Voice to discuss why she is the best candidate and what she plans to do if she is elected to the seat. “My people know that I show up and deliver,” Willis, dressed in the orange and blue of her alma mater, Savannah State University, said. Willis is getting public support from within the Fulton County government. She has the endorsement of current and outgoing District 5 Commissioner Marvin Arrington, Jr., who finished third in the primary election for Fulton County Commissioner Chair. Arrington, Jr. has publicly endorsed current Fulton County Commissioner Chair Robb Pitts, who
Helen Z. Willis (above) formerly a member of South Fulton’s City Council, wants to be the next District 5 commissioner. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
is running against first-time Fulton County Commissioner Mo Ivory. For Willis, a veteran of local government, serving the public is important. She has received the endorsement of Dejia Felicity Swindell, who finished third with
12.67% of the vote in the Democratic Fulton County Commission District 5 election. The endorsements are just icing on the cake. “The most important endorsement to me is the endorsement of the people ,” Willis said. “That support comes from relationships that I have built.” During the primary election for the Fulton County District 5 Commission seat, Willis won the majority of the votes, 43%, while Grimmett, who received an endorsement from J. Jazz Thomas-Jones, the fourth place finisher in the election, won 35%, forcing a runoff. During her time in government, Willis said she created opportunities for the community, including the “Feeding the City” program, which established partnerships with the Atlanta Food Bank, and private partners to provide food to the public. Many parts of South Fulton can be described as a food desert. The program continues, and is now being run by South Fulton District 6 Commissioner Natasha Williams-Brown. “You have so many people who are not being advocated for,” Willis said. “Being on city council, and working on municipal issues, I went beyond the call of duty.” Willis said there needs to continue to be ways to grow and sustain our own vegetables
and fruit. “It’s an essential human and health service. Teaching people how to address food insecurity is important,” she said. Asked what future plans she would like to implement, Willis has many ideas, including bringing back community gardens, youth/ teens job training, and advocating for affordable housing. “My goal is to continue that on the county side,” Willis said. Runoff elections, in Georgia and across the country, are notorious for having weaker turnouts than primary and presidential elections. Willis is aware of this fact, and expects “a significant dropoff, but will do what she can to rally voters. “I’m doing what it takes to get my people back to the polls,” she said. The Republican candidate for the District 5 commissioner’s seat is Tiffany A. Henyard, who is an outsider, so the best opportunity to win the seat may come in this race. That runoff election will take place on Tuesday, June 16. Early voting has begun. Asked if she was ready, Willis said she was. “I have served in the City of South Fulton for over eight years. I have given the City of South Fulton municipality 15 years of my life,” Willis said. “There’s so much work I have to do.”
Politics
One more chance: Candidates in Georgia runoff elections appeal to voters during forum By LAURA NWOGU
T
he results of election day brought along a series of runoffs, including seats for Georgia’s lieutenant governor, secretary of state, insurance commissioner, Fulton County commission chair, and Fulton County commissioner, District 5. Ahead of runoff election day on June 16, Concerned Citizens Taking Pride in the Southwest Side, a nonpartisan grassroots organization, organized a candidate forum at the Ivy Community Center on Wednesday in partnership with Georgia Stand-Up, The People’s Agenda, and The Ivy Community Foundation. Atlanta residents of all ages sat in the audience for the opportunity to hear from and meet Georgia statewide and Fulton County runoff candidates. The forum was moderated by
award-winning journalists Monica Pearson and Maria Boynton. Questions by community members were submitted and selected ahead of the event, and candidates gave open and closing statements with 90 seconds to answer two questions each. Both Republican candidates in the runoff for governor were invited to attend the forum. Lt. Governor Burt Jones notified the organizers that he had a scheduling conflict; they said they did not receive a response from healthcare CEO Rick Jackson. Former Commissioner Mo Ivory is vying for the Democratic nomination for the Fulton County commission chairman seat. She’s hoping to take over from longtime incumbent Robb Pitts, who is seeking reelection. Safer neighborhoods, stronger county services, greater accountability, and distributing economic
Ahead of runoff election day on June 16, Concerned Citizens Taking Pride in the Southwest Side, a nonpartisan grassroots organization, organized a candidate forum at the Ivy Community Center on Wednesday. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
opportunities equitably throughout Fulton County were among the issues they discussed. “Chairman Pitts believes experience is measured by how long you’ve been there. I believe experience is measured by how quickly you can identify problems and how effectively you can solve them,” Ivory said during her opening
statement. “The question is not how long have you been there. The question is, what have you accomplished while you were there? Fulton County deserves leadership that pays attention, acts with urgency, and delivers results.” Pitts ended the forum with his closing statement. “My counterparts across the country call me
and ask me, ‘How are you able to do what you do for your citizens without raising taxes?’ That’s how I know that we’re doing such a great job… This is not the time for onthe-job training. We are at war. Experience does matter.” The race to be the Democratic
See ELECTION on page 8
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Community
Amazon Donates $100K, Partners With Soccer in the Streets ahead of World Cup By NOAH WASHINGTON
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s the world prepares to come to Atlanta, the city is bringing the world to its youth. Amazon, Soccer in the Streets, and Mayor Andre Dickens welcomed more than 100 metro Atlanta youth to the East Lake MARTA Station Soccer Fields on Wednesday morning for a summer soccer and STEM clinic timed to the FIFA World Cup’s arrival in the city later this month. Students from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta and Awesome Team rotated through soccer drills and hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math activities, divided into country-themed teams as a nod to the global tournament. Amazon Vice President of Public Policy and Community Engagement Brian Huseman announced a $100,000 donation to the Mayor’s Youth Scholarship Program, adding to more than $10 million the program has raised in recent years to support Atlanta students pursuing higher education. “We want them to be excited by athletics and trying out soccer, but we also want them to be excited by STEM education, and hopefully try
both,” Huseman said. Amazon also donated an additional $100,000 to Soccer in the Streets. The event featured Amazon’s Think Big Van alongside the STEAM Truck, which gave students access to robotics demonstrations and handson experimentation. Science ATL was also among the partners on-site. Dickens, who studied chemical engineering, drew a direct line between athletic development and academic achievement, telling the students that the same qualities that make great athletes also shape great engineers, coders, and scientists. “The last thing I want to say is that research is clear: kids who play sports do better in school and in life,” Dickens said. “It is clear that young people who participate in sports are more likely to succeed in school, to graduate, and to go on to have strong careers.” The mayor also acknowledged Soccer in the Streets as an early priority of his administration. Dickens cited the organization receiving a $50,000 youth development grant in 2023 during Dickens’ Year of the Youth initiative, and has since grown its station soccer infrastructure across the Atlanta region. Amazon has partnered with Soccer in the Streets for four years. Huseman said the approaching
The event aimed to promote both athletics and STEM education, and the mayor emphasized the importance of sports in academic achievement. Photo by Miles Pierre, The Atlanta Voice Intern
World Cup made the moment feel right to deepen that investment. “We’ve been partnering with Soccer in the Streets for the past four years,” he said. “With the World Cup kind of coming, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to help.” Kaseem Ladipo, executive director of Soccer in the Streets, said the organization’s existing infrastructure, tournaments, clinics and league play, is being enhanced to take
Amazon, Soccer in the Streets, and Mayor Andre Dickens welcomed more than 100 metro Atlanta youth to the East Lake MARTA Station Soccer Fields on Wednesday morning for a summer soccer and STEM clinic timed to the FIFA World Cup’s arrival in the city later this month. Photo by Miles Pierre/The Atlanta Voice intern
ELECTION Continued from page 7 Party’s nominee for Georgia lieutenant governor is between state Sen. Josh McLaurin and former state Sen. Nabilah Parkes; McLaurin was the only one to attend the forum. Former Georgia State Rep. Keisha Waites and insurance agent and Navy veteran DeAndre Mathis will run against each other again in June to clinch the Democratic nomination. Both
attended the forum, tackling questions about rising homeowner and auto insurance premiums, making insurance more affordable for older adults and working families, and accountability within the insurance industry. Both parties for secretary of state are in the runoffs, with former judge Penny Brown Reynolds and Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett running against one another for the Democratic ticket and state Rep. Tim Fleming and former Democratic state Rep. Vernon Jones facing each other for the Republican ticket.
advantage of the global spotlight. He said partnerships like the one with Amazon demonstrate what’s possible when institutions align around community benefit. “When we have these types of events, like with Amazon, it’s really about coming together and showing the rest of the world what’s possible when you have cross-sector partnerships coming together for the benefit of community,” Ladipo said. City of Atlanta Senior Technology Advisor Donnie Beamer attended on behalf of Dickens’ office and pointed to the STEM programming as an extension of what competitive sports already teaches young people. “The same skills that you build in sports, grit and problem solving, and teamwork — they’re also incredibly important to STEM,” Beamer said. “You’re much more likely to be able to go pro as an engineer than as a soccer player.” Beamer cited a First Robotics participant who went from passive
Barrett was the only one who could attend the forum, answering questions about voter participation, increasing voter competence, ensuring elections remain secure and accessible, and helping entrepreneurs navigate state licensing. When voters hit the polls again in June to vote for who will become commissioner in Fulton County’s 5th District, they will have to choose between two people on the Democratic ticket, fomer South Fulton City Councilwoman Helen Zenobia Willis and Sojourner Grimmett. They discussed investment in
observer to program president to SpaceX employee as an example of what access to hands-on technology can unlock. Union City Mayor Vince R. Williams and alongside alongside other regional elected officials. Dickens acknowledged the gathering as a reflection of the metro area’s growing diversity, noting the event’s country flags represented nationalities living across Atlanta, Decatur, Clarkston, Union City and the surrounding region. With FIFA World Cup matches scheduled to begin in Atlanta in less than two weeks, Ladipo said he hopes visitors will see Soccer in the Streets as a model for expanding access to the sport globally. “Come check out what we’re doing at our station soccer sites, because if we’re trying to really grow the game and make sure there’s access to all kids, we’re the model for how you can make that happen,” Ladipo said.
youth programs, workforce development, and recreation opportunities. Thelesia “Ms. Honey Bee” Lowery-Barksdale, a community advocate, and Deborah Scott, executive director of Georgia Stand-Up, encouraged the audience to get involved in local organizations and show up for their communities beyond the elections. “We’re in serious trouble. So, beyond this runoff, beyond this race, we need you all to get involved and get in the fight,” Scott said to the audience.
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Sports
World Cup ‘26: Atlanta Welcomes Uzbekistan By DONNELL SUGGS
T
he 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on Thursday, June 11, and for many of the teams participating in the largest soccer tournament on the planet, there are new countries and cities in North America to call home. The Uzbekistan National Team, in the World Cup for the first time, is calling Metro Atlanta home and has set up their base camp at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, the home turf of Atlanta United, at least for the group stage of the World Cup. On Wednesday, June 10, the Uzbekistan team participated in a community training session with youth players from across the Marietta area. The kids got a chance to play with professional players, and that’s what the World Cup is all about, says Atlanta United Senior VP of Strategy Dimitrios Efstathiou. “The kid in me who grew up watching the World Cup on satellite TV is helping host a team at its first World Cup,” Efstathiou said.
“There’s something really special about what we’re doing here.” The Atlanta United training grounds are designed to host multiple teams. The facility is a venue-specific site, which means there’s enough room to host a national team and still have space for Atlanta United players who might return from the MLS World Cup break, with a place to work out or get treatment. “This is an elite championship-level training ground,” Efstathiou. Former Italian National Team center-back and 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year Fabio Cannavaro is the Uzbekistan manager and briefly introduced himself to the media at training on Wednesday. Cannavaro, 52, still looks like he could put in a shift at center-back. For those unfamiliar with Cannavaro’s resume, he was the captain of the Italian National Team that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The man standing before a throng of reporters from national and local publications, websites, radio stations, and television stations, including Chinese CCTV,
Telemundo, and Reuters, said he, his fellow coaches, and the team were excited to be in Marietta. “We are happy to be here,” Cannavaro said, who was presented with a framed jersey signed by the entire Atlanta United squad. Uzbekistan will play its first two matches against Colombia and Portugal away from Georgia, but will return to Atlanta for its final group-stage match against the Democratic Republic of Congo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, June 27. 22-year-old Abbosbek Fayzullaev, who plies his trade in Istanbul’s Super Lig, was on the pitch in Marietta with his teammates this week. The midfielder said of the heat in Georgia, “It is Ok for us because it is like this in Uzbekistan right now.” He was correct. In Uzbekistan, at the same time as that interaction, the temperature was nearing 90 degrees, just like it was in Georgia. Uzbekistan had made Metro Atlanta home. “The weather is not a problem,” Fayzullaev said with a smile. “Next month, maybe.”
Uzbekistan National Team manager and former Italian National team star Fabio Cannavaro (far right) during training on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Health
Atlanta Hawks, Kaiser Permanente Host Second Annual Men of Color Health Summit By NOAH WASHINGTON
F
or Onaje Henderson, co-owner of Zucot Gallery and Saturday’s keynote speaker, being a Black man comes down to one thing: showing up. “It is doing things like this, showing up for one another, in community,” Henderson said, “but it’s also providing and looking out and taking care of people.” June is Black Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Atlanta Hawks and Kaiser Permanente are addressing the issue. More than 90 men of color gathered at State Farm Arena for the second annual “Real Talk, Real Strength: Men of Color Health Summit presented by Kaiser Permanente,” a partnership event featuring three panel discussions, a keynote address, and additional programming throughout the day. The event is part of a broader three-part wellness series that the organizations launched this year, targeting different demographics across the Atlanta community. Brandon Gardner, community relations manager for Kaiser Permanente, said the event reflects the organization’s commitment to
whole-person health. “If your mental health, your emotional health, your spiritual health is not intact, that kind of puts all that together with the physical health,” Gardner said. “Creating this space, providing a space where black men can be their authentic selves, means the world to me.” The day’s programming centered on themes the organizers described as long-overlooked among men of color, including what Henderson called “the invisible weight that men carry.” “My business became my identity, but that’s not who I am as a person,” Henderson said. “With the rate of suicides that are happening right now, the rate of brothers who are just unhappy in life, I also matter. I think that’s what we’re talking about today.” Psychologist Dr. Curtis D. Jasper, a panelist, delivered one of the summit’s most candid moments, recounting a period between 2009 and 2013 during which he lost his mother to lung cancer, went through a divorce, and watched his financial life collapse. “I literally had to surrender,” Jasper said. “I couldn’t achieve my way out. I couldn’t borrow any
more money my way out. I couldn’t thug my way out. I couldn’t speak my way out, teach my way out, accumulate my way out.” Jasper said two things kept him grounded during that period: going to the gym and changing his diet. Conrad Hall, a data analyst and University of West Georgia alumnus who attended to support a friend, said Jasper’s account put language to something he hadn’t fully considered before. “A season can actually be years,” Hall said. “People don’t realize that. The most important thing to take away is how to maneuver through a season when it can be that long.” Jasper told attendees that recovery, not the avoidance of failure, is the skill worth developing. “Don’t avoid falling and taking L’s,” he said. “Just get good at recovery.” According to the American Heart Association in a 2026 study, high blood pressure affects more than 62 percent of non-Hispanic Black men, one of the highest prevalence rates in the world, and the reality of that statistic was present in the room. Former NBA champion Josh Powell discussed how two decades of professional basketball have left
June is Black Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Atlanta Hawks and Kaiser Permanente are addressing the issue. More than 90 men of color gathered at State Farm Arena for the second annual “Real Talk, Real Strength: Men of Color Health Summit. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
a physical toll he continues to manage, while Dr. Aaron Cooper disclosed that he is currently navigating a high blood pressure diagnosis of his own. “There are things that I’ve put my body through that are now starting to catch up to me,” Powell said, “so it’s just really being mindful and making sure that I’m doing the proper things.” The summit is the third event in a series that began in May with “The Whole Women: Women of Color Wellness Experience,” which drew nearly 100 women to the Andrew Young and Family YMCA, followed by “The Wellness Huddle: A Youth Mental Wellness Summit,”
which served nearly 70 middle school students. The Hawks and Kaiser Permanente launched their partnership in 2024 and surveyed more than 50 men of color ahead of Saturday’s event to shape the panel topics around what attendees actually wanted to discuss. Sean Barham, a recruiter originally from Jamaica who was laid off last year, said a panelist’s framing of ego as a barrier to healing directly reflected his own experience. “Dr. Jones said that ego is the killer, and it can hold you down and not bring you up,” Barham said. “You have to be acceptable to being vulnerable, and you can’t do it alone.”
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Arts
Healing through words: Our Words Heal Atlanta By NOAH WASHINGTON “Instead of dying today, I made a new song.” Those words, spoken by a student featured in the Our Words Heal campaign’s promotional video, set the tone Tuesday morning at ZuCot Gallery, where community leaders, artists, and organizations gathered to launch a public engagement campaign aimed at shifting how Atlanta confronts trauma, violence, and healing. Our Words Heal Atlanta, a campaign advancing trauma healing and promoting health equity and racial justice, held its official launch event on June 9 at ZuCot Gallery, just days before the FIFA World Cup brings a global spotlight to the city. “Atlanta is a city with a rich legacy of social change and community leadership,” said Dr. Charles Moore, a physician, professor at Emory University School of Medicine, director of its Urban Health Initiative, and a founder of Strategies for Just Communities, the nonprofit behind the campaign. “This is a city where ordinary people come together to accomplish extraordinary things. It’s a city that helped shape the civil rights movement and demonstrated to the nation the power of collective action, collective courage, and hope.” The campaign is led by Strategies for Just Communities, a collaborative founded by recognized pioneers in trauma healing, Drs. Ted Corbin, Moore, and John Rich. Originally co-designed by young people and community partners in Philadelphia, the campaign has expanded to Atlanta, with Chicago as its next potential target city. Through digital storytelling, social media, community conversations, art, and shared experiences, Our Words Heal seeks to move communities away from silence, stigma, and punishment as responses to trauma and toward understanding, collective action, and healing. “Our words heal were born from a simple but profound belief that words matter,” Moore said. “The stories we tell about ourselves, our neighbors, and our communities matter. Too often, communities that experience trauma are defined by statistics, deficits, or headlines that focus only on pain and suffering, but that is not the full story. The full story includes resilience. The full story includes creativity. The
Our Words Heal Atlanta, a campaign promoting trauma healing, health equity, and racial justice, was launched at ZuCot Gallery with the goal of shifting how Atlanta confronts trauma, violence, and healing through digital storytelling, social media, community conversations, art, and shared experiences. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
full story includes love, hope, and healing.” The launch event was held at ZuCot Gallery, one of Atlanta’s Black-owned art spaces. Onaje Henderson, co-founder at ZuCot, said the partnership was a natural one. “The idea of being a precedent for young people, and also being a place where people can feel safe and come to enjoy themselves, our goal is to tell our stories through work,” Henderson said. “He’s telling our stories and changing, transforming lives through the work that they do.” The event featured remarks and healing art from several community organizations, including Gangstas to Growers, Notes for Notes, artist Demetri Burke, and Leroy Ellis. Burke, whose work was featured in the campaign, described his piece “Real Life and Shift” as a meditation on confidence amid adversity, inspired by a gospel song of the same name. “What this piece wants to communicate is
Artist Demetri Burke. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
to keep pushing, to keep going on, even when it seems like things won’t work out for you,” Burke said. “How can artwork, how can being creative, cope with that sense of healing, that sense of grounding?” Abby Henderson, founder of Gangstas to Growers, used her remarks to connect the campaign’s mission to deeper structural realities facing Black communities, calling for solutions that extend beyond individual healing. “We’re pouring into the young people so they have the tools and the inner strength and power to actually change their condition and teach others how they can change their condition,” Henderson said. Campaign partners include Benjamin E. Mays High School, Circle of Safety, Compassion Center of Georgia, Mighty Engine,
Mothers Against Gang Violence, Notes for Notes, Radical Optimist Collective, and Walk With a Doc, among others. Moore said he hopes the launch marks the beginning of an ongoing movement. “I hope that this is just the start of multiple conversations, multiple ways that people come together,” he said. “Collectively coming together to address issues that are important to us, so that we can reduce violence, we can help folks move forward and intervene.” Dr. Belinda Douglas of the Compassion Center of Georgia, when speaking to attendees, left a charge to those assembled, encapsulating the campaign succinctly. “Our words heal,” Douglas said. “Let’s dedicate this practice today for those who are in need of these words.”
The event featured art and advocacy from local organizations, setting the stage for a movement of understanding and change. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
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JUNE 12-18, 2026 • www.theatlantavoice.com
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REQUEST FOR BIDS FULTON COUNTY ADVERTISEMENT FOR RFP Sealed Solicitation for 26RFP1622517A-JWT Senior Mobile Wellness Clinic Services for the Department of Senior Services will be accepted by the Fulton County Department of Purchasing & Contract Compliance, via Bidnet Direct https:// www.bidnetdirect. com/georgia/fultoncounty.gov.on Monday, July 06, 2026. All Solicitations submitted will be received no later than 11:00 a.m. local (Eastern) time on the stated date. Proposers’ names will be publicly read at 11:05 A.M. local (Eastern) time virtually, via a zoom meeting onthe stated due date. Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/94237119211 Meeting ID: 942 3711 9211 One tap mobile +14703812552,,94237119211# US (Atlanta) +14702509358,,94237119211# US (Atlanta) SCOPE OF WORK: Fulton County, Georgia (“County”) is seeking a qualified contractor with substantial knowledge and experience toprovide Senior Mobile Wellness Clinic services. This is a Medicare benefit service for seniors age 65 and older. FEE: N/A TERM OF CONTRACT One (1) Year, with two (2) one (1) year renewal options. PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE:Date: Monday, June 15, 2026 Time: 10:00 A.M., local time Web Conference Link Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/92869326858 Meeting ID: 928 6932 6858 One tap mobile +14702509358,,92869326858# US Atlanta) +14703812552,,92869326858# US Atlanta) If you have any questions regarding this project please contact Janelle Tanner, APA, MBA, CPPB at404-612-7969 or janelle.tanner@ fultoncountyga.gov. Fulton County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and to waive technicalities.
Page 12 • JUNE 12-18, 2026 • theatlantavoice.com
Traditions are best shared. We honor the many ways legacy is passed down and preserved, from cherished recipes and timeless wisdom to the moments that become unforgettable memories.
“These foods remind me of my mom’s family traditions and growing up. It’s a way to feel close to my heritage.” – Christina S., Georgia
“Culture grounds us. It tells us where we come from, shapes how we see the world, and gives us a sense of pride and belonging no matter where we go. Without it, we lose the thread that ties generations together.” – S. Daley, Florida
“Traditions can live on for many generations. It’s how we connect back to those who had us in mind when they established the traditions.” – Erica, Georgia